children with disabilities

From misdiagnosis to social boycott, patients born with the genetic condition called Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) have a lot to deal with. Awareness is the first step to help them.

Moved by the plight of a mother on the verge of abandoning her disabled child, special educator Anil Joseph from Agra decided to shelter the baby, which became instrumental for him to start an NGO and a shelter for children.

Deepmala Pandey, a primary school principal from Uttar Pradesh's Bareilly, has been instrumental in getting over 800 disabled students enrolled in schools. She is supported by 400 teachers.

When his daughter Jasjeet was diagnosed with Down Syndrome, Punjab's Amarjit Singh Anand launched Chaanan, a loving home for disabled kids that also provides vocational training and jobs.

Sarthak has successfully placed 7250 Persons with disabilities in various fields spanning retail, BPOs, IT and hospitality, through all its centers in India.

Rajen Nair is a freelance photojournalist living in Mumbai. He has a partial hearing disability. Rajen has conducted photography workshops for about 700 children, including cancer patients and children with disabilities.

Their own struggle helped them develop empathy towards others. The empathy, in turn, helped them build a solid support system for other parents of children with special needs. This is the inspiring story of K. Madhu Babu and D. Varija, a Dubai-returned couple and their children – a 9-year-old autistic son, Hem Sreesh, and a 7-year-old daughter Varhsini who lives with learning disabilities.

Started by Madhu Tugnait, Icha Foundation has been taking care of every need of abandoned children, especially those with disabilities. From healthcare to education and clean clothes, Icha fulfills all their needs. With volunteers, doctors and caretakers treating them like their own kids, these lesser privileged kids now have a reason to smile (or should we say, grin!). Take a peek at the amazing photos that capture the essence of the wonderful cause.

Rekha Kumari is not just another girl inflicted with polio since age 2. This 22-year-old daughter of a watchman in Delhi is the key campaigner of "World We Want", an initiative that calls for equal rights and opportunities for children living with disabilities across the globe. She also led the 11-member team of children that took the "children's manifesto" to the UN General Assembly last year. Meet the brave young woman with the never-say-die spirit!

Delhi Council for Child Welfare is a Non-Governmental Organization established in 1952. The Council first started its work among children who had been displaced, lost or abandoned in the riots surrounding the Partition of India, providing them care. Today, these services reach over 3000 children daily and are provided virtually free of cost to them.